Getting out the internet’s vote
AS they does in the ballot box, so they do on the internet.
In an election campaign that was often dominated by social media, the Healy-Raes’ election machine has been remarkably adept at harnessing the powers of the web.
While most candidates in Kerry were all over social media – primarily Twitter, Facebook and Instagram – the Healy-Raes, and Michael in particular, took it to a new level.
The top vote-getter in the country in 2016 even managed another national poll-topping performance last week when his Instagram account become the most popular accounts of any candidate in the country.
Even Leo Varadkar, an avid fan of social media, was put in the ha’penny place, managing only about half of the Kilgarvan deputy’s ‘Insta’ hits. How did he celebrate the achievement? How do you think? With a quick thank you and another avalanche of memes.
“Just want to thank everyone who has been following our online campaign...we’re embracing the digital side of things this year,” he wrote.
Embrace it they certainly did ,and while we all knew the Healy-Raes were masters of traditional electioneering, they’ve been just as masterful at modern online campaigning methods.
In addition to scores of comedy memes and an array of photos from the campaign trail, Michael Healy-Rae has also been using social media to post a series of slickly produced video clips under the banner of MHR-TV, addressing various topic including farming issues and the tourism VAT hike.
At one stage there was even a ‘get out the vote’ video that saw the Kilgavan TD superimposed into the video of Korean novelty pop hit Gangnam Style.
Though slightly less busy online than his younger brother, Danny Healy-Rae is also in on the act, and as well as Twitter he also launched his own Instagram page.
Another contender making good use of online platforms is Fianna Fail’s John Brassil.
While all three Fianna Fáil candidates have been making regular social media posts, Deputy Brassil looks to be getting more mileage from Twitter and Facebook.
In addition to the usual images from the canvas, the Ballyheigue-based Deputy has been posting numerous videos directly addressing key issues, and providing regular updates on the past few days’ campaigning.
As has become an unusually frequent feature of the social media feeds of many candidates around the country, Deputy Brassil’s encounters with pet dogs – some friendly, some less so – while on the canvas have been a regular feature of his updates.
The Green Party’s Cleo Murphy has also proved well able to take advantage of social media with a colourful mix of canvassing photos from around the county intermingled with various Green Party policy pieces and videos.
Sinn Féin have adopted a relatively similar approach with Pa Daly offering up a variety of snapshots and videos from his journeys across the county. The Na Gaeil fan’s trip to Croker to cheer on his club’s all Ireland winners also got a good airing.
Meanwhile, Fine Gael in Kerry have appeared less interested in social media thus far.
Though Mike Kennelly has been posting plenty of updates from his canvass around the county, his party colleague, Tourism Minister Brendan Griffin, has, so far, been considerably quieter. He has had a presence online but with only a handful of posts, including of few campaign videos from the canvass.